Leveling support for sewage distributors



March 16, 1943. C YEQMANS 2,314,182

LEVELING SUPPORT FOR SEWAGE'DISTRIBUTQRS Fil ed Aug. 1, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 1 a" a H March 16, 1943. c. Y EOMANS 2,314,182

I LEVELING SUPPORT FOR SEWAGE DISTRIBUTORS Filed Aug. 1, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 2' March 16, 1943. c. YEOMANS 2,314,182

LEVELING SUPPORT FOR SEWAGE DISTRIBUTORS Filed Aug. 1, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 JWW- Patented Mar. 16, 1943 LEVELING SUPPORT FOR SEWAGE DISTRIBUTORS Charles Yeomans, Hubbard Woods, 111., assignor to Yeomans Brothers Company, a corporation of Delaware Application August 1, 1941, Serial No. 404,969

9 Claims. (Cl. 299-54) My invention relates generally to rotary sewage distributors, and it is particularly directed to adjustable support means for the upright central columns of such apparatus.

Rotary type sewage apparatus for distributing liquid sewage over circular filter beds has been in Widespread use for many years. In general, the usual installation comprises a circular filter bed having a well in the center thereof in which stands a central column through which liquid sewage is delivered for distribution, the actual distribution being effected by horizontal, radially extending, perforated, tubes or arms rotatably supported on the column. In the larger units, the filter beds may be upwards of 1'70 feet in diameter, and the central columns may be in the order of 10 feet in height, In order to obtain full use of the filter beds, the distributing arms should have a length approximately equal to the radius of the filter beds with which they are associated. This means that in the larger installations, these arms may be upwards of 85 feet in length. Ordinarily, four distributing arms are provided for each unit and the arms are symmetrically spaced relative to each other. Any other practical number of distributing arms may be provided.

Broadly, each of the central columns used in the conventional apparatus of this type comprises a stationary, inner, hollow post and an outer, rotatable member fitting over. the inner post. The outer member serves as a hub for the tubular distributing arms projecting therefrom; Guy

wires or other strain members running from adjacent the top of the outer, rotatable hub member to spaced points along the length of each of the horizontal distributing arms, provide the principal support for the arms. A thrust bearing is usually located on the upper end of the inner stationary post which supports the weight.

of the outer rotating hub member and that of the sewage distributing arms mounted thereon.

It will be seen that the load carried by this thrust J the columns and to provide an inlet connection for the delivery of liquid sewage thereto. The support pipe fittings are in turn carried on suitable foundations or blocks which rest on or in the ground.

Substantially all rotary type sewage distributors have the general construction and features as described above. Although, a great many of these units have been installed and are in successful operation at many sewage disposal and treatment plants throughout the country, they are all subject to one particular difficulty. Due to the very heavy rotating load which must be carried by the central columns and due to the great stresses involved, it has been found that in order to prevent operational difilculties these central columns must be maintained in a substantially true vertical or plumb position at all times. Even though a column may be canted only a very small amount from a plumb position, the resulting unequal stresses and thrusts over even a short period of time may easily break the thrust bearing and the guide rollers. However, when the central columns are maintained in a substantially truly vertical position, the apparatus will operate very satisfactorily over a period of years with only a small amount of wear and With no difiiculty with respect to a breakage of parts.

An idea of the effect of a very small amount of tilting or canting of the central columns may be obtained from the following illustrative examples. In a rotary sewage distributor unit having distributing arms 85 feet in length, a tilt of 1 of the central column will raise or lower the ends of the arms, depending upon which side they are on, about 1 feet. the larger distributor structures when filled may equal 10,000 pounds, hence the resulting horizontal component due to a 1 tilt may be as great as 175 pounds, which is obviously capable of serious injury to the structure. A tilt in the column of 5 would move the ends of the same distributing arms nearly 7 /2 feet, and would produce a horizontal component of about 870 pounds.

Of course, a tilt of as much as 5 would probably be so serious as to prevent operation of a unit in a very short time, but tilting of the columns of even a much smaller amount will produce seriously unbalanced operating conditions which cannot be tolerated for any substantial period of time without great damage to the equipment.

The most frequent cause for the central columns getting out of a true vertical or plumb position is the shifting or sinking of the foundation supports therefor, due to various ground condi- The total Weight of one of.

tions. Frost-s and excess moisture may cause heaving and settling of the ground supporting the foundations in certain cases. In other situations the soil may prove incapable of supporting the weight of the apparatus without special foundations which may not have been anticipated or provided. When any unit is installed, there is, therefore, always a relatively great possibility, and in fact probability, that some settling or shifting of the foundations with subsequent canting of the central columns will take place.

In those instances where the settling and tilting of the central column is so serious that continued operation of the unit cannot be maintained without great risk of damage, it has been necessary to dismantle the whole distributor mechanism by taking off the long distributing arms and lifting the column so that the foundation may be regrouted and releveled. The lifting of the column makes it necessary to disconnect the sewage inlet fitting which usually includes a leaded joint. This joint must be re-poured and re-caulked when the inlet fitting is again connected after alignment of the column. While this procedure makes possible a realignment of the central column to the vertical or plumb position whereby proper operation of the unit may again be resunied, the accompanying dismantling of the machine and the regrouting of the base or foundation is very objectionable, not only from the standpoint of the amount of labor and inconvenience involved, but also from the standpoint of the time lost due to the unit being out of service.

Accordingly, the object of. this invention, generally stated, is the provision for, and the combination with the central columns of rotary type sewage distributor units, of adjustable leveling support means, whereby the difiiculties encountered heretofore, as outlined above, may be easily eliminated and overcome. As will appear fully hereinafter, the object of the invention is accomplished by providing an adjustable leveling support at the base of each central column of a rotary type sewage distributor unit whereby the columns may be readily and conveniently adjusted to and maintained in the Vertical or plumb position.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of my invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective top View of a rotary sewage distributor unit having embodied therein the adjustable support means of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the upright central column of the sewage distributor unit of Fig. 1 showing the relative positions of th central column, the adjustable leveling support at the base thereof, the support pipe ttings through which liquid sewage is conducted to the central column, and the foundation or block upon which the assembly rests;

Fig. 3 is a plan section taken generally on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are fragmentary, vertical sectional views taken on line l4, -5, and '65, respectively of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a ring member forming an important element of the adjustable support means of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing one form of the adjustable leveling support of the present invention adapted to be installed at the base of the central column of an existing distributor unit not originally provided with a leveling support;

Fig. 9 is a plan sectional view taken generally on line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line |0Iil of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modified central column support having a concrete column supporting block or foundation which is cast in the form of a sewage inlet fitting and which has a third form of the adjustable leveling support of th present invention mounted thereon.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, a rotary sewage distributor unit of the previously described type is indicated generally at Iii. This unit includcs a circular filter bed I l which is several feet in depth and which is contained in a cylindrical masonry tank l2. The rotary distributor means provided for distributing or spreadin liquid sewage over the surface of the filter bed H, includes four tubular arms l3 which are supported for rotary movement from a central column I 4. A central well P5 of masonry construction is provided in the center of the filter bed ll so as to permit convenient access to the central column [4. The sewage distributing arms I3 project horizontally from the central column M at a short distance above the level of the filter bed H. The major part of the weight of the projecting sewage distributing arms I3 is supported by a number of guy wires I6 which extend from adjacent to the top of the central column M to spaced points on the arms l3, as shown.

The rotary sewage distributor unit Hi operates in the usual manner of this type of apparatus. Liquid sewage is fed up through the hollow central column I l under a sufficient head to force it out into each of the tubular distributing arms 13. A number of uniformly spaced holes (not shown) are provided on one side of each of the arms l3 through which the liquid sewage may discharge. The openings in each of the arms l3 are provided on corresponding sides thereon in each case so that the reaction force produced by the outflow of the liquid sewage will serve to rotate the distributing mechanism. When the distributing system is balanced with the central columns M in a truly vertical position, only a relatively small head on the liquid sewage delivered is required so that it discharges through the openings in the arms I3 with sufficient velocity to give the proper rate of rotation.

As stated, my present invention is directed to an adjustable leveling support whereby the central column l6 may be conveniently adjusted to, and maintained in, the vertical or plumb position. Such an adjustment permits the rotating mechanism to operate smoothly without undue stress or wear and allows the distributing arms to rotate in a level horizontal plane over the surface of the cylinder bed H.

The difiiculty and serious damage likely to be encountered when the unit is operated with the central column I4 canted or tilted from the true vertical position has been pointed out above. The details of construction and operation of one form of adjustable leveling support for adjusting the central column M to and maintaining it in a substantially vertical position are shown and described in connection with Figs. 2 through 7 of the drawings.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the central well has a center foundation or block 20 located in the bottom thereof. An elbow pipe fitting 2 I, having a duckfoot support base, is rigidly mounted upon the foundation block 20 and firmly secured thereto by means of a plurality of anchoring bolts 22 which extend into the block 20, as shown. Liquid sewage flows into the fitting 2| through a sewage inlet pipe 23, as indicated. Preferably, the fitting 2| is provided with a drain opening on the righthand side thereof to which a valve 24 and a drain pipe 25 may be connected. A spool piece pipe fitting 26 is bolted to the top flange of the elbow fitting 2| and is secured thereto in flange to fiange connection. The central column M, as indicated in its entirety by the bracket in Fig. 2, is adjustably supported on and connected in fluid conductive relationship with the stationary pipe fitting 26 by means of the adjustable leveling support of the present invention indicated generally at 21.

The central column l4 comprises a cast, inner, stationary, hollow post 30 which supports an outer rotatable hub casting 3|. The inner post 30 has a number of sewage outlet holes 32 formed therearound at substantally the same level as corresponding holes 33 in the outer hub 3| through which the'liquid sewage is discharged from the column M into the arms l3. The horizontal radially projecting sewage distributor arms |3 are connected at their inner ends to the four sewage outlet holes 33 in the hub 3|, as shown. As indicated by the arrows, the liquid sewage flows up through the stationary pipe fittings 2| and 26, and the inner post 30, out through the holes 32 into the annular space between the inner post 3!! and the outer rotating hub 3|, and leaves the hub 3| through the four outlet holes 33 therein and passes into the four distributing arms l3.

The outer hub 3| is supported for rotary movement on the inner post 30 by a thrust bearing 35 mounted on the upper end of the inner post 30. It will be seen that the thrust bearing 35 carries the full weight of the rotating mechanism of the unit I0. That is, the load on the bearing 35 consists of the weight of the distributing arms I3 and the liquid sewage therein plus the weight of the rotating hub 3|. In order' to provide for smooth and easy rotation of the hub 3| around the inner post 3|! and to assist in absorbing side thrusts, a number of guide rollers 36 are carried on the underside of a circumferential flange 31 on the hub 3| so as to rotate around a cylindrical band or track 38 rigidly supported around the post 30. A fluid tight seal is maintained between the inner stationary post 30 and the outer rotating hub 3| by a cylindrical skirt 43 which is. provided on the base of the hub 3| and which rotates in a relatively deep, annular recess'4El formed between the outside of the post 30 and a cylindrical member 4| supported therearound, as shown. To effect the desired seal, the recess 43 is filled, about threequarters full, with mercury.

The adjustable leveling support 21 comprises a ring member 55 (shown in perspective in Fig. 7) supported in an accurately machined, annular recess or groove formed in the top surface of a flange 52 integrally formed on the spool piece fitting 26. The ring 50 is preferably formed of bronze and the bearing surface thereof is rounded in the shape of a true spherical segment the center of which should preferably intersect the vertical axis of the column M. The spherical bearing surface of the ringmember 5|l fits into a correspondingly shaped spherical bearing recess therefor-formed in the base or bottom end of the central column M, as shown.

By reason of having the bearing support surface of the ring member 50 spherically shaped, and engaging a corresponding spherically shaped bearing surface centrally located in the undersideof the base of the column l4, the column may be tiltedin any direction on the ring member 50 and a water-tight joint is provided. It has been found that the inside diameter of the ring member 50 should be equal to about 0.85 of the radius of curvature of the spherical bearing surface thereof. This relationship has been found to give the bearing surface of the ring member 50 a suitable amount of curvature so that the column |4 may be readily tilted in any direction thereon without undue lateral shifting of the base of the column, while at the same time the column I4 may be retained in a reasonably stable position on the ring member 50. It will be understood that this exact relationship does not have to be strictly maintained.

The ring member 50 is of sufiicient thickness so as to space the opposing flanges 52 and 53 a suflicient distance apart so as to permit the desired angular tilting or movement of the flange 53 in respect to the lower stationary flange 52. It will also be noted from'Figs. 4, 5, and 6 that the opposing faces of the flanges 52 and 53 are curved away from each other, particularly adjacent to their outer edges, so as to thereby provide greater tolerance and permissible tilting of the flange 53 in respect to the stationary flange 52. This requires that suitable means be pro vided for adjusting the vertical position of the column M on the ring member 50, and for permanently maintaining it in the adjusted position thereon. v

In the illustrated apparatus; the adjusting means consists of a number of set screws or forcing screws 55 adjustable in tapped holes provided therefor in the flange '53 at the base of the column M. In the" particular construction shown, four set screws 55 each spaced apart angular degrees, are provided as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings. The lower end of the set screws 55 are adapted to be tight-- ened down in forcing relationship against the top of the stationary flange 52, while the heads 56 of the set screws 55 project above the top of the flange 53 so as to be readily accessible by a wrench or other adjusting tool. It will be noted that the set screws 55 are placed well out adjacent to the peripheral edge of the flange 53 so as to obtain the maximum forcing leverage for tilting or canting the column 4.

In the construction shown the means for fixedly retaining the column M in an adjusted position on the ring 50 as determined by the adjusting screws 55, consist of a number of bolts 51 provided in registering holes therefor in the flanges 52 and 53 as particularly shown in Figs.

'3 and 4. In the illustrated apparatus there are twelve of these bolts 5'! which are disposed in a bolt circle lying within the circle in which the set screws 55 ,are placed. The bolt holes in the flanges 52 and 53 aresomewhat larger than the shanks of the bolts '57 passing therethrough so as to provide ample clearance or tolerance for the tilting of the upper flange 53. When the bolts 51 are tightened by turning down the nuts '58 provided on the upper ends thereof, the central column M will be held in a very stable and fixed position on the ring 50.

In order to provide for easier operation of the leveling support, 21 and to prevent any sticking or freezing thereof over a period of time between adjustments, it is desirable to provide a circumferential lubricating groove 60 in the spherical bearing surface of the ring 50, as shown in Fig. '7. Lubricating material or grease may be forced into the groove 60 through an Alemite pressure fitting 6| connecting therewith, or by equivalent means, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The fitting 6| passes at an angle through the base of the column 14 so as to terminate at and connect with the grease groove 60.

The leveling support 21 may be conveniently manipulated to provide adjustment of the central column M to the true vertical position. When making an adjustment of the position of the column I4, the retaining bolts 51 are first loosened, so as to permit the column to be shifted on the bearing ring 50. The vertical axis of the central column [4 may then be adjusted by turning the set screws or forcing screws 55 so as to bring the column into the true vertical or plumb position. In making the adjustment, the position of the vertical axis of the central column l4 may be accurately checked by slowly rotating the distributing arms !3 and observing whether or not the outer ends thereof rotate in a horizontal plane. If the arm l3 are high at a point in their rotation around the filter bed H. the column [4 may then be tilted in that direction. If available, a transit may be very conveniently used to adjust the axial position of the column l4. With the transit leveled it can be readily determined whether the end of any one particular arm l3 rotates at the same level throughout the 360". After a true vertical plumb position of the central column [4 is obtained, the bolts 51 may be tightened so' as to draw the flanges 52 and 53 together and to hold the column M in a fixed position.

The amount of vertical adjustment which it is necessary for the adjustable leveling support 21 to provide may appear to be rather small when considered in terms of degrees from a true vertical position. However, as outlined above, the small amount of angular adjustment of the column is very important in connection with the operation of the sewage distributor unit and heretofore great difliculty has been encountered in making the necessary adjustment. It ha been found that a maximum adjustment of 2 /2 angular degrees from the vertical in any direction will provide ample adjustment to take care of all adjustments normally required. Of course, the adjusting support 21 may be designed to provide a greater amount of adjustment in case it is found to be necessary.

Adjustable leveling supports for the central columns of rotary type sewage distributor units may be provided in several different modifications according to my invention. An important one of these modifications is shown in connection with Figs. 8, 9 and 10 of the drawing and designated generally at 85 therein. The adjustable leveling support 65 is particularly adapted for incorporation into existing sewage distributor installations which, as installed, did not include leveling means.

The general features of the construction and operation of the adjustable support 65 are the same asthose of the adjustable support 21 described ab ove in connection with the first seven adjacent to the peripheral edge thereof.

figures of the drawings. As shown in Fig. 8, a sewage inlet fitting 66 is mounted on a suitable foundation or block 61. similar to the corresponding pipe fitting 2| in ..Fig. 2 of the drawings, and has a conventional flange 68 integrally formed at the topthereof. A similar flange 10 is integrally formed on the base of a central column H which corresponds to the central column I4 in Fig. 2.

The adjustable support 65 is disposed intermediate the flanges 68 and 16, and includes a ring-shaped flange member 12 afflxed to the top of the integral flange 68 by a number of cap screws 13, and a second corresponding ring-shaped flange member 14 aflixed to the underside of the integral flange 10 by a plurality of cap screws 15. A water-tight gasket 16 is provided between the integral flange B3 and the flange member 12' secured thereon, while a similar gasket 11 is secured between the integral flange 10 and the flange member 14 carried thereon. The opposing flanges 12 and 14 are maintained in spaced apart relationship by a bearing ring member disposed therebetween which corresponds to the ring member 50 of Fig. 7. The ring member 80 fits in an annular groove formed therefor in the upper side of the ring-shaped flange member 12, as shown. The ring member 8|] has a spherically curved bearing surface which fits in bearing support relationship in a similarly shaped bearing recess formed in the underside of the ring-shaped flange member 14. As in the case of the ring member 50 in Fig. '7 of the drawings, the spherical bearing surface of the ring member 80 should be so curved that the inside diameter of the ring flange member 12. This arrangement permits a.

minimum thickness of the adjustable leveling support 65 for a maximum amount of angular adjustment of the column 1|.

A number of set screws or forcing screws 83 are provided for adjusting the vertical position of the column 1| on the ring member 80. In the structure shown, four of these set screws 83 (Fig. 9) are provided in tapped or threaded holes provided therefor in the upper flange member 14 The heads of the four set screws 83 are easily accessible by a wrench, while the lower ends thereof are adapted to be tightened down in forcing relationship against the upper surface of the lower flange member 12. In order to draw the opposing flange members 12 and 14 together and to maintain the column l! in a fixed vertical position on the ring 80, a number of connecting bolts 84 are provided, corresponding to the bolts 51 in the adjustable leveling support 21, Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 9, twelve of these connecting bolts 84 are provided which pass through registering bolt holes formed therefor in the opposing flanges 12 and 14. The holes in the flanges 12 and 14 for the bolts 84 are somewhat larger than the shanks of these bolts so as to provide ample tolerance and clearance for the tilting of the upper flange 14 in respect to the lower stationary flange 12 without binding. Rounded .washers85 are provided un- The pipe fitting 66 is der the bolt heads 86 and nuts 81 so that full engagement with the flanges I2 and 14 may be provided in all positions in which it may be necessary to tilt the upper flange member I4.

In certain installations, there is only a small margin between the head at which the liquid sewage is delivered to the rotary distributor unit and the minimum operating head which is required. When an adjustable leveling support, such as the adjustable support 65, is installed in such units, the additional height to which the central columns are raised by the insertion of the adjustable leveling support may be such that the minimum operating head is exceeded. In these instances, it is ordinarily merely necessary to remove one of the usually present spool piece pipe fittings (such as the spool piece fitting 26, Fig. 2). If a central column is lowered too much when one of the fittings is removed and the adjustable support 65 is inserted, such a fitting may be replaced by a shorter one. However, in almost all cases the adjustable leveling support 65 may be installed Without difl'iculty.

A modified form of adjustable leveling support made according to this invention and which may be used to advantage in certain installations is shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings. A central column supporting block or foundation 90 in the form of a concrete block has a central vertical well 9| cast therein with a side inlet hole 92 connected therewith into which a sewage delivery pipe 93 may be fitted and grouted. An annular bearing plate 94 is secured on the top face of the concrete fitting 90 by a number of anchor bolts 95, as shown. The bearing plate 94 provides a flat bearing support surface for a stationary spool piece fitting 96.

The bottom flange 01 of the spool piece 96 is secured to the bearing plate 04 by a number of cap screws 98 therearound, while the upper flange I thereof forms one element of the adjustable leveling support for a central column IOI. The adjustable leveling support is indicated generally at I02. A circumferential flange I03 integrally formed on the bottom of the central column I0! is supported in spaced opposing relationship from the flange I00 by a ring member I04, preferably formed of bronze. The ring member I04 is securely carried in an annular groove made therefor in the top face of the upper flange I00 formed on the spool piece fitting 95. In general function anddesign, the ring member I04 corresponds to the ring member 50, in Fig. '7, and has a similar spherically contoured bearing surface which fits in water-tight bearing support relationship in a correspondingly shaped bearing recess formed therefor in the lower end of the column I0 I.

A number of set screws or forcing screws I05 are provided which are adjustable in tapped holes provided therefor in the upper opposing flange I03 so as to provide for adjusting the vertical position of the central upright column I M on the ring I04. The lower ends of the set screws I05 bear against the top surface of the stationary flange I00 while the heads thereof project above the top of the flange I03 so as to be readily accessible. A number of bolts I06 are provided, as shown, for drawing the flange I03 down towards the lower flange I00 so as to maintain the central column IOI in a fixed position on the ring member I04.

Provision should be made in the design of the adjustable leveling support I02 for the necessary tolerance in the tilting of the flange I03 at the base of the central column relative to the stationeral edge, as shown, permits greater relative movement between the opposing flanges. Also the bolt holes .in the opposing flanges I00 and I03 should be suiiiciently large so as to give ample clearance for the shanks of the bolts I06 and thereby prevent binding thereof. Rounded washers IIO are provided under each nut III so as to provide a better seat against the upper flange I03.

The manipulation of the adjustable leveling support I02 for adjusting the column IOI to the vertical or plumb position corresponds substantially to the manipulation of the adjustable leveling support 21 as described above.

Since certain further changes may be made in the foregoing constructions and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter described hereinbefore or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. In rotary sewage distributors of the class described having a central, upright, hollow column through which liquid sewage is delivered for distribution through horizontal, radially extending, sewage distributing arms rotatably supported on said column, and a stationary pipe fitting on which said column is supported and through which the sew-age is delivered into the column, in combination, an adjustable leveling support connected in fluid conductive relationship between the base of said column and the stationary pipe fitting whereby the column may be adjusted to the true vertical position, said adjustable leveling support comprising, a ring member carried in a substantially horizontal position on said stationary pipefitting and having a bearing surface shaped as a spherical segment which fits in bearing support relationship in a correspondingly shaped bearing recess' provided therefor in the base of said column, said column being tiltable in any direction on said ring, adjusting means for adjusting said column to a plumb position on said ring member, and means for maintaining said column in fixed position on said ring member.

2. In rotary sewage distributors of the class described having a central, upright, hollow column through which liquid sewage is delivered for distribution through horizontal, radially extending, sewage distributing arms rotatably supported on said column, and a stationary pipe fitting on which said column is supported and through which the sewage is delivered into the column, in combination, an adjustable, leveling support connected in fluid conductive relationship between the base of said column and the stationary pipe fitting whereby the column may be adjusted to the true vertical position, said adjustable leveling support comprising, a ring member carried in asubstantially horizontal position on said stationary pipe fitting and having a bearing surface shaped'as a spherical segment which fits in bearing support relationship in a correspondingly shaped bearing recess provided therefor in the base of said column, adjusting means for adjusting said column to the plumb position on said ring member, and means for maintaining said column in a plumb position on said ring member, the inside diameter of said ring member being equal to about 0.85 of the radius of curvature of its spherical bearing surface whereby said column may be readily tilted in any direction thereon and whereby said column is stable thereon.

3. In rotary sewage distributors of the class described having a central, upright, hollow column through which liquid sewage is delivered for distribution through horizontal, radially extending, sewage distributing arms rotatably supported on said column, and a stationary pipe fitting on which said column is supported and through which the sewage is delivered into the column, in combination, an adjustable, leveling support connected in fluid conductive relationship between the base of said column and the stationary pipe fitting wherebythe column may be adjusted to a true vertical position, said adjustable leveling support comprising, a ring member mounted in a substantially horizontal position on a circumferential flange carried on said stationary pipe fitting and having a bearing surface shaped as a spherical segment, said ring member fitting in bearing support relationship in a corresponding spherically shaped bearing recess provided therefor in the base of said column whereby said column may be tilted in any direction thereon, a circumferential flange carried on the base of said column and spaced in opposed relationship from said circumferential flange carried on said stationary pipe fitting, set screws adjustable in tapped holes therefor in one of the opposing circumferential flanges with the ends thereof adapted to be tightened in forcing relationship against the other flange whereby said column may be adjusted to a plumb position on said ring member, and bolts adapted to draw said opposed circumferential flanges together so as to maintain said column in fixed position on said ring member.

4. In rotary sewage distributors of the class described having a central, upright, hollow column through which liquid sewage is delivered for distribution through horizontal, radially extending, sewage distributing arms rotatably supported on said column, and a stationary pipe fitting on which said column is supported and through which the sewage is delivered into the column, in combination, an adjustable leveling support connected in fluid conductive relationship between the base of said column and the stationary pipe fitting whereby the column may be adjusted to the true vertical position, said adjustable leveling support comprising, a ring member mounted in a substantially horizontal position on a circumferential flange carried on said stationary pipe fitting and having a bearing surface shaped as a spherical segment, said ring member fitting in bearing support relationship in a corersponding spherically shaped bearing recess provided therefor in the base of said column, the inside diameter of said ring member being equal to about 0.85 of the radius of curvature of its spherical bearing surface whereby said column may be readily tilted in any direction thereon and whereby said column is stable thereon, a circumferential flange carried on the base of said column and spaced in opposed relationship from said circumferential flange carried on said stationary pipe fitting, set screws adjustable in tapped holes provided therefor in one of the opposing circumferential flanges with the ends thereof adapted to be tightened in forcing relationship against the other flange whereby said column may be adjusted to a plumb position on said ring member,

and bolts adapted to draw said opposed circumferential flanges together so as to maintain said column in fixed position on said ring member.

5. In rotary sewage distributors of the class described having a central, upright, hollow column through which liquid sewage is delivered for distribution through horizontal, radially extending, sewage distributing arms rotatably supported on said column, and a stationary pipe fitting on which said column is supported and through which the sewage is delivered intothe column, in combination, an adjustable leveling support connected in fluid conductive relationship between the base of said column and the stationary pipe fitting whereby the column may be adjusted to the true vertical position, said adjustable leveling support comprising, a ring member mounted in a substantially horizontal position on a circumferential flange carried on said stationary pipe fitting and having a bearing surface shaped as a spherical segment, said ring member fitting in bearing support relationship in a corresponding spherically shaped hearing recess provided therefor in the base of said column, whereby said column may be tilted in any direction thereon, a circumferential flange carried on the base of said column and spaced in opposed relationship from said circumferential flange carried on said stationary pipe fitting, a plurality of set screws adjustable in tapped holes angularly spaced around said flange carried on the base of said column with the heads thereof projecting above this flange and with the opposite ends thereof adapted to be tightened down in forcing relationship against the flange carried on said stationary pipe fitting whereby said column may be adjusted to a plumb position on said ring member, and a plurality of angularly spaced bolts mechanically connecting said opposed circumferential flanges and adapted to draw said flanges together so as to maintain said column in a fixed position on said ring member.

6. In rotary sewage distributors of the class described having a central, upright, hollow column through which liquid sewage is delivered for distribution through horizontal, radially extending, sewage distributing arms rotatably supported on said column, and a stationary pipe fitting on which said column is supported and through which the sewage is delivered into the column, in combination an adjustable leveling support connected in fluid conductive relationship between the base of said column and the stationary pipe fitting whereby the column may be adjusted to the true vertical position, said adjustable leveling support comprising, a ring shaped flange member secured onto a circumferential flange integrally formed on said stationary pipe fitting, a ring member mounted on said flange member and having a bearing surface shaped as a spherical segment, a second ring shaped flange member secured onto the underside of a circumferential flange integrally formed on the base of said column, said ring member fitting in bearing support relationship in a corresponding spherically shaped bearing recess formed therefor in the underside of said second ring shaped flange member whereby said column may be tilted in any direction thereon, and said ring member spacing said ring shaped flange members apart, a plurality of set screws adjustable in tapped holes angularly spaced around said second ring shaped flange member with the heads thereof projecting above this flange and with the opposite ends thereof adapted to be tightened down in forcing relationship against said first mentioned ring shaped flange member whereby said column may be adjusted to the plumb position on said ring member, and a plurality of angularly spaced bolts mechanically connecting said opposed, spaced apart, ring shaped flange members and adapted to draw the same together so as to maintain said column in a fixed position on said ring member.

7. In rotary sewage distributors of the class described having a central, upright, hollow column through which liquid sewage is delivered for distribution through horizontal, radially extending, sewage distributing arms rotatably supported on said column, and a stationary pipe fitting on which said column is supported and through which the sewage is delivered into the column, in combination, an adjustable leveling support connected in fluid conductive relationship between the base of said column and the stationary pipe fitting whereby the column may be adjusted to a true vertical position, said adjustable leveling support comprising, a ring member mounted in a substantially horizontal position on a circumferential flange carried on said stationary pipe fitting and having a bearing surface shaped as a spherical segment, said ring member fitting in bearing support relationship in a corresponding spherically shaped bearing recess provided therefor in the base of said column whereby said column may be tilted in any direction thereon, a circumferential flange carried on the base of said column and spaced in opposed relationship from said circumferential flange carried on said stationary pipe fitting, a plurality of set screws adjustable in tapped holes angularly spaced around said flange carried on the base of said column with the heads thereof projecting above this flange and with the opposite ends thereof adapted to be tightened down in forcing relationship against the flange carried on said stationary pipe fitting whereby said column may be adjusted to a plumb position on said ring member, said set screws and the tapped holes therefor being spaced out from the center of said column and adjacent to the peripheral edge of said flange carried on the base of said column whereby maximum mechanical advantage is obtained for the set screws in adjusting said column to and maintaining it in the plumb position, and a plurality of angularly spaced bolts mechanically connecting said opposed circumferential flanges and adapted to draw said flanges together so as to maintain said column in a fixed position on said ring member.

8. In rotary sewage distributors of the class described having a central, upright, hollow column through which liquid sewage is delivered for distribution through horizontal, radially extending, sewage distributing arms rotatably supported on said column, and a stationary pipe fitting on which said column is supported and through which the sewage is delivered into the column, in combination, an adjustable, leveling support connected in fluid conductive relationship between the base of said column and the stationary pipe fitting whereby the column may be adjusted to a true vertical position, said adjustable leveling support comprising, a ring member mounted in a substantially horizontal position on a circumferential flange carried on said stationary pipe fitting and having a bearing surface shaped as a spherical segment, said ring member fittin in-bearing support relationship in a corresponding spherically shaped bearing recess provided therefor in the base of said column whereby said column may be tilted in any direction thereon, a circumferential flange carried on the base of said column and spaced in opposed relationship from said circumferential flange carried on said stationary pipe fitting, set screws adjustable in tapped holes therefor in one of the opposing circumferential flanges with the ends thereof adapted to be tightened in forcing relationship against the other flange whereby said column may be adjusted to a plumb position on said ring member, and bolts adapted to draw said opposed circumferential flanges together so as to maintain said column in fixed position on said ring member, at least one of said circumferential flanges having that face thereof which opposes the other flange rounded off or curved towards the peripheral edge thereof so as to permit 7 greater relative tilting of said circumferential flange carried on the base of said column in relation to said circumferential flange carried on said stationary pipe fitting.

9. In rotary sewage distributors of the class described having a central, upright, hollow column through which liquid sewage is delivered for distribution through horizontal, radially extending, sewage distributing arms rotatably supported on said column, and a stationary pipe fitting on which said column is supported and through which the sewage is delivered into the column, in combination, an adjustable leveling support connected in fluid conductive relationship between the base of said column and the stationary pipe fitting whereby the column may be adjusted to the true vertical position, said adjustable leveling support comprising, a ring member mounted in a substantially horizontal position on a circumferential flan e carried on said stationary pipe fitting and having a bearing surface shaped as a spherical segment. said ring member fitting in bearing support relationship in a corresponding spherically shaped bearing recess provided therefor in the base of said column whereby said column may be tilted in any direction thereon, a circumferential flange carried on the base of said column and spaced in opposed relationship from said circumferential flange carried on said stationary pipe fitting. set screws adjustable in tapped holes therefor in one of the opposing circumferential flanges with the ends thereof adapted to be tightened in forcing relationship against the other flange whereby said column may be adjusted to a plumb position on said ring member, and bolts adapted to draw said Opposed circumferential flanges together so as to maintain said column in fixed position on said ring member, said ring member having a groove formed in the spherically curved bearing surface thereof for retaining lubricating material therein, and an injection opening provided in the base of said column setting on the ring member through which a lubricant may be injected into said lubricant retaining groove.

CHARLES YEOMANS. 

